The Best Way to Prevent Child Abuse

Last week we had a little poll: What's the best way to prevent child abuse? And we sneakily only let you vote for one answer.

77% of respondents thought the best way is to teach adults about children's rights.

22% thought that it's best to empower children to advocate for themselves.

And nobody voted for creating laws that ban child abuse!

Of course, all the answers were somewhat right, but you need all three to be really effective. Laws and policies that ban child abuse are helpful.  But child abuse will always continue if it's culturally acceptable, as it is in countries like Bolivia where 40% of teachers admit to thinking physical punishment is an acceptable way to discipline a student.  We've used this figure before -- 80,000 Latin American children die every year in their own homes because of domestic abuse. 


The adults of today's world need to be educated against neglect and every kind of abuse: physical, sexual and psychological. The problem exists now, and the perpetrators need to be corrected now!  Many parents grew up in an abusive environment and think abuse is part of a normal childhood.  They need to learn otherwise.

But not every adult listens.  In fact, sometimes being told what not to do in their own home can cause people to inwardly revolt.  Pressure has to come from below as well as above: from children themselves.

Big things happen when children know their rights and work together to speak out against child abuse! That's why we're committed to all three ways of preventing child abuse: we train project leaders and workers to protect the children in their care and to counsel parents against abuse. We give children the power and knowledge to speak out against abuse.

When thousands of children and hundreds of project workers start acting differently, governments (and parents!) notice. Keep an eye out for great success in Uganda, where this is exactly what's happening!